Parshas Kedoshim

Commandments Bring us to Holiness

The usual translation of the word kdoshim into English is “holy.” As is also
usual in translations from Hebrew into English, it does not carry with it
the nuance that is present in the original Hebrew word. Kdoshim is not
exclusively meant to represent holiness in the common usage of the word but
it encompasses a dedication and devotion to a cause, an idea - to a faith
itself. The Lord Himself, so to speak, describes His own Being as being not
only holy but also as being dedicated – dedicated to fulfill His Will
through the people of Israel, their history, behavior, events and destiny.

By describing Himself in this fashion, God reassures us that there is
purpose to our lives and actions. He desires that we be dedicated throughout
our lives, in all of our actions, to educate the world in His ways and value
system. His dedication to us is oftentimes hidden and not clearly understood
and appreciated but it is eternal and ongoing.

Our dedication to Him and His Torah must also be of that very nature –
eternal and ongoing. Thus holiness is no longer to be viewed as pure piety,
noble as that trait is, but rather also to be one of perseverance and
tenacity, even stubbornness, if you will. The stiff-necked people are also
the holy and dedicated people. This overriding sense of loyalty and tenacity
of spirit and action is truly one of the basic hallmarks of Jewish history
and life.

It is no coincidence that it is this parsha of the Torah that contains such
a large number of commandments. For dedication and loyalty can only be
translated into behavior by rote, ritual and varied actions. That is why the
Mishna itself commented that the Lord wanted to prove Israel meritorious by
providing such a large number and great variety of commandments to be
fulfilled and performed. For only by such a regimen are human beings able to
develop loyalty, purpose and a firm commitment to goodness and righteousness.

We are all creatures of habit and in developing good habits we become
transformed into being good people. Good habits require drill and
repetition, firmness and discipline. There are no shortcuts to holiness or
dedication, no easy faith and convenient sense of religion. So the Jew is
surrounded on all sides in one’s daily life by God’s commandments.

Everything in life becomes capable of holiness and dedication to God’s
nobility of existence. There really is nothing in life that is truly
relegated to the mundane and unholy. It is the human attitude towards events
and actions, the sense of purpose and dedication that accompanies one’s
actions which define the holiness and dedication of each and every action
and facet of our existence. This plethora of commandments is meant to
enhance and accomplish this holy purpose and give eternal meaning to our
lives and society. That is why the lord is justified in ordering us to be a
just, holy and dedicated people.